Muslim holy month begins

Shurja Market in central Baghdad is the place to go to stock on food and special delicacies for Ramadan. Muslims around the world are celebrating the start of the holy fasting month. Iraqis braved the bombs and bullets to shop at the famous bazaar. The mood was tinged with sadness as many remembered the spirit with which Iraqis used to celebrate Ramadan. SOUNDBITE: Market vendor, Habeeb Sajid, saying (Arabic): "In previous years Ramadan was better as the security situation was better than now. People used to come here not only from Baghdad but from other provinces too to stock up on food. Those people were poor but they were happy." Traditionally, Ramadan is a time of peace and togetherness, of doing good deeds and spending time with family and friends. But all too often in Iraq and Afghanistan the holy fasting month has led to a surge in fighting. In the Afghan capital, Kabul, people were also shopping for sweets and food. But not too far away the war goes on....bloodshed marking the start of Ramadan after coalition airstrikes killed more than 45 Taliban fighters in the south. In Egypt Ramadan coincided this year with the start of the new school term....shoppers at this Cairo market groused about the dual expense. SOUNDBITE: Cairo resident, Sameh Mahrous, saying (Arabic): "Prices are up for everything - even for the sweets. Ramadan and schools starting at the same time makes it difficult, every thing is so expensive" This was the scene in Western Sumatra. The start of Ramadan in the world's most populous Muslim nation was marred by a series of powerful earthquakes, which rocked parts of Indonesia, sparking panic and destroying hundreds of homes. Helen Long, Reuters

Submission | September 13, 2007

Tags:. .better. .away. .used. .stock. .goes